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Saturday, April 10, 2010

Our Kroger store is running a triple coupon event again this weekend, so we headed out today, armed with my coupon binder. We had quite a list of things we were out of... things that I don't usually use coupons for. So I knew that my total this week would be a little higher than usual. Here's what we ended up with.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Our area (Pittsburgh/Columbus) should see two coupon inserts, one SmartSource and one RedPlum.

You can view the entire list of what's in the insert HERE. It's always wise to see the full list of the coupons BEFORE you buy your newspapers. If you happen to see a bunch of them that you know you're going to use, you may want to buy extra papers.

Also, remember to check your newspapers before leaving the store. There have been several times when I've picked up a paper to check it for the correct number of inserts, only to find that some are missing. Better to find that out before you buy rather than when you get the papers home!

Head over HERE to print a coupon good for $2.00 off L'Oreal's True Match Roller. While you're there, you can also print a coupon for $2 off Studio Secrets, $1 off 360 Go Clean Cleanser, and $1 off any L'Oreal product. There are a couple of free samples to snatch up too.

Blog reader Rhonda just emailed me to let me know that the Toys 'R Us store in St. Clairsville has Seventh Generation products on clearance for $1.98 each. She saw dish soap, dishwasher soap, window cleaner, and all-purpose cleaner. There are also $1.00 off printable coupons available on the Seventh Generation website.

If you're interested in staying fit, you might be interested in the FREE Walk Off the Weight 1-week walking plan from Quality Health. You can download it HERE. You'll answer six health questions. You can skip the offers - unless you're interested in any of them - and then you'll see your plan.

We happen to be getting a free two-week subscription to our local newspaper right now, and I just found a HUGE ad for Kroger triple coupons in it! The triple coupon event begins today (4/8) and goes through Sunday (4/11).

Select Ohio and West Virginia Kroger stores will be tripling coupons. Coupons up to and including $.50 will be tripled. (If your local Kroger normally doubles coupons between $.51 and $.99, they will continue to double those.) All other coupons will be redeemed at face value. There is no limit to the number of coupons you can use, and Internet printables will be eligible for tripling.

Before you head out to Kroger, remember to call and make sure that your store is participating. Also, stop by Coupons.com and RedPlum to print your coupons!!

Become a Facebook fan of Einstein Bros Bagels and get a coupon good for a FREE Bagel every Friday from now until 5/22. There is no additional purchase necessary! You may also want to call your local store to make sure that they are participating. There's also a coupon good for $2.00 Tuesdays Bagel, Shmear, and Coffee before 11 a.m.

Living in Ohio, you never know when you might run your air conditioner one day and wear snow boots the next. But it looks like the warmer weather is here to stay! If you're heading out for any picnics this spring or summer, you might want to download the FREE Spring Picnics mini cookbook that's over HERE. Let me know if you make any yummy dishes!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

After our conversation in the Kmart post HERE, I emailed Kmart's customer service to get the final word on whether or not they accept printable coupons. Below is the response I received. We were right! If your store has been denying them, email customer service (Custrel@customerservice.kmart.com) and take their reply with you to the store.

Thank you for your recent correspondence. We are always interested in hearing from our customers. Thank you for your interest in using Internet coupons at our Kmart stores.

Kmart does accept secure print-at-home coupons. Kmart can only accept print-at-home coupons if they scan properly at checkout. Legitimate printable coupons are delivered using special software designed to print a properly rendered bar code on the coupon and limit the number of coupons printed. If the coupon does not scan properly it cannot be accepted. Kmart will not accept coupons for more than about 75% of a product's value. For example, a $2 off coupon for a product that sells for $2.25 is unlikely to be legitimate. If there are exceptions, Kmart is usually provided advance notice by the manufacturer. Coupons will be rejected if they appear distorted or blurry, altered in any way, or are obvious duplicates. Kmart will not accept "FREE product" (no purchase required) print-at-home coupons. It is currently an industry practice not to produce print-at-home manufacturer's coupons for free product.Buy-one-get-one-free coupons and other values that have a purchase requirement are acceptable.

Become a fan of Wheat Thins on Facebook, and you can print a coupon good for $1.00 off Wheat Thins. Even if you did this the last time they made it available, you should be able to visit the Wheat Thins Facebook wall to print another two copies.

I stopped by Kmart for the first time during this week of not-so-super double coupons. I wasn't sure if I'd be met with some resistance from the cashier or if things would run smoothly. (Read some of the comments about other readers' Kmart experiences on the post over HERE). I was pleasantly surprised with an upbeat cashier who rang everything up with a smile.

I ended up with enough All detergent to do 96 loads of laundry. And, since we were out of dog biscuits before this trip, I also ended up with one happy little dog. Here's what I got.

Is it just me, or do you also have a hard time paying just tax at checkout? Do you get strange looks from the cashier? Or a pat on the back? I was buying a little summer purse with this transaction, so I paid almost $20. But I'm always a little weirded out by owing nothing or next-to-nothing. I really need to get over that, don't I?

I wasn't planning on stopping at CVS today. But I heard that the coupon printing machine in the store was printing out the quarterly ECBs this week. I've had to use most of my ECBs for necessities lately, so I really wanted to see how many I had coming for my quarterlies. (It was $12.50 by the way... evidence that we've been sick and had lots of prescriptions this quarter! Yikes!)

Since my roots were once again sparkling in the sunlight, I figured I'd pick up some hair color while I was there. And while I was at it, why not try to spend ALL $12.50 of those ECBs? I've never done this without a well-thought-out plan! But, hey, why not!?!?

* I wasn't planning to buy the Diet Mt. Dew/Doritos combination. (Those pesky Diet Mt. Dews keep ending up in my shopping pictures, don't they!?) But in order to use the $12.50 ECBs without losing any of them (you don't get change from them), I needed a couple of small filler items. The cashier suggested the Dew/Doritos deal, because I would get another $1 ECB back. Good idea!

I did a couple of quick shopping stops after I dropped Emma off at preschool today. When I went into Kroger, I didn't even take my coupon binder with me. I was only getting a few things, and I didn't have coupons for any of them. But I happened to run into a real-life friend who's also a blog reader. She was armed with her coupon binder.... and I was without mine. I'm forever preaching about always taking your binder with you, no matter what. You never know when you'll spot a something that would be free after coupons. BUSTED! :)

Here's what I ended up with at Kroger. Unfortunately, I had left my Juicy Juice coupon at home, so I only bought one. The deals just weren't that stellar at Kroger this week, so I spent under $20 for what's in the picture (and the missing Diet Mt. Dew). That's good news for the grocery budget!

By the way, the frozen tilapia fillets are on sale for $3.99 this week. They're really good, especially when made into Broiled Tilapia Parmesan. (I really do need to try some new recipes with this fish!)

I haven't been to Kmart yet this week, but I was wondering how the latest super double coupon event was going. Has anyone been there yet? Have they been strict about coupons? I've heard rumors that they're not accepting more than 1 of a particular coupon from each customer each day, but that could just be a rumor. Leave me a comment telling me about your Kmart experience this week. Maybe I'll brave it later in the week!

Head over HERE to print a coupon good for $1.00 off any Sunsilk product. If you click the Personal Care link on the left side of your screen, it should be toward the beginning of the list. You'll also find a coupon for $1 off Renu Multi-Purpose Contact Solution. Use this on a trial/travel sized bottle, and it will be close-to-free!

The $3.00 off Huggies coupon is also back. If you don't have little ones, you may want to print this for a friend who buys diapers.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Here are the best deals that I see at Kroger this week. Note: I am using a Great Lakes Region ad, and my Kroger only doubles coupons up to $.50. If your ad or coupon policy is different, your final cost may vary.

It's been a whirlwind week around here, and it's not about to let up yet! I'll be teaching a shopping/couponing/money saving class at my church this week as part of their presentation of Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. It's always fun, but I've got some last-minute finishing touches to put on the presentation. That plus working three days means that my menu plan has to run like a well-oiled machine! Here's the easy-on-mama plan for this week.

Easter is truly one of the most exciting holidays that we celebrate, as we would be nowhere, nothing without the resurrection of Christ. My prayer for you, my bloggy friends, is that you would know Him. Know that He loves you. Know that He would have given His life if it was only for YOU. My hope is that you are celebrating new life in Christ today. And if you're not, there's no better time than today to grab hold of that new life.